Member Patricia Greenberg Illustrates Park Guide

When asked how she spent her summer at a recent RMSBA Member Meeting, Patricia Greenburg replied, "Most of the summer 2013 has been spent working on these illustrations for a children's book about Rocky Mountain National Park ... it will be a guide to the history of the park, written by Patricia Pickering and Patricia Washburn (seems like you had to be named "Patricia" to work on this project!). It will include historic photographs as well as my drawings of the local flora & fauna ... it's been so much fun to do.

 

Cover Art, 7x7", watercolor wash & colored pencil on smooth Bristol board, Patricia Greenberg

Each of the animals on the cover will act as guides along the existing roads in the park ... they will highlight sights along the way & point out animals & plants you may see in the area. Right now the copy is being edited & I still have 2 more drawings to finish. We hope to have it published by the spring of 2014, just in time for the 100th anniversary (2015) of RMNP. Hope this is something you were looking for & thanks for the opportunity.

Page 6, 8x10", watercolor wash & colored pencil on smooth Bristol board, Patricia Greenberg

Ancient Art of Fore-edge Painting Discovered

As artists grounded in traditional painting, it's always exciting to hear about other lesser-known traditional arts. The University of Iowa has a treasure trove of fore-edge painted books. Known as "secret paintings," they are only visible when the edge is fanned correctly. Click here to see more of this amazing art form.  

 

New Gallery Opens with RMSBA Member

Valkarie Gallery originated from the creative minds of founding members Frank Farrar, Valerie Savarie and Karrie York. Together, they envisioned a space where they could collectively create and display their art. A place where they could invite a diverse collection of artists to exhibit their work and whose art greatly inspired the creation of their own. Both gallery and working studio, Valkarie is owned and run by artists, for artists and invites the community to join us in the celebration of all things creative! RMSBA member Dorothy DePaulo is a contributing member to this new gallery.

Opening and Inaugural Exhibition: November 1, 2013 - January 12, 2014
Valkarie Gallery
445 South Saulsbury Street
Lakewood, CO

Find out more by clicking here.

Dorothy's featured piece is Mesquite, colored pencil on film, which was recently purchased by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum for their permanent collection. Congratulations, Dorothy.

Illustrated by RMSBA Artist, Book Event Benefits Judi's House

 

RMSBA member Dorothy DePaulo illustrated Pam McClelland's tale, Turn It Around Sadie. Told in rhyme and charmingly illustrated, this uplifting story will empower children and their parents to perservere in difficult times.

 

This event benefits Judi's House, started by Brian Griese in memory of his mother who he lost when he was 12 years old. In November of 2002, he opened the doors to Judi's House, helping children find hope and healing after the loss of a special person. It's available for only $9.95 at this happy event.

 

You're invited to an FAC, with food, wine and a purppose - making Turn it Around Sadie available free to families participating in programs at Judi's House in 2014. Pam and Dorothy will donate a book for every book purchased during November and December. This book is a great Chrismas gift for your family and young friends.

 

The specifics: When: Friday, November 8, 2013, 4- 7 PM

                       Where: Judi's House

                                    7655 Robb Street

                                    Arvada, CO 80005

                       Contact: 303.526.9734, RSVP if possible

Online Exhibition Cancelled due to Lack of ...

...interest? I find that hard to believe, but perhaps, lack of computer time to send in your images. We did get a lovely image from our fearless leader, Dorothy DePaulo:

Aesculus glabra- Buckeye Tree, Colored pencil on drafting film, 11"x16"

 

She tells us: This is my entry for Remembering Summer. I found this buckeye tree in Belmar Park in Lakewood. Even though I have walked by the tree many times, I never really payed much attention to it until one spring day, when it was covered in hundreds of candles of bright white flowers. I suddenly realized I did not know what kind of tree it was. After some research, I found it was a buckeye tree, the same tree that gave Ohio the name, "the Buckeye State." Apparently the fruit looks like the eye of a deer! Though seldom seen in this area, it seems do do well here." It's a beautiful piece, keenly observed.

Are there trees in full autumn dress in your neighborhood. Take some time to sketch them and make color notes. You'll be glad you did, when you have enough time to complete the work.

Now's the time to plan ahead! When you create an artwork, take the time to scan it at 300 dpi before it gets involved in framing and exhibition. File in completed artworks files. Then, when an online opportunity comes around, you'll be ready to rock and roll, and your artwork will be online for admirers new and old to oh and ah over. This is your blog! Use it!

Updatead Rare II Listings Available Now

Click here to go to updated listings for Rare II. We have SIX hosts for this exhibition, which will start at The Wildlife Experience in 2015. This is a wonderful opportunity to have your art seen around the Rocky Mountain west, and supports our mission to increase awareness of the fragile beauty of endangered species, and their place in our ecosystems.

Remembering Summer Online Exhibition is NOW!

Balanced Peppers, colored pencil, Libby Kyer

Images should be full color .jpg, about 5x7" or so, at least 150 dpi. Please include your name, the title of the image, species names in Latin and common usage, size of actual image width x height in inches, medium/a, and any short story you might want to share with other members about why you painted the specimen, or the process of painting, or the fun you had finding it, or any other related notes.

Deadline is 30 September, 2013. Gallery will be available online during October and November.

Updates!

An update about Botanical Art of the Sonoran Desert: Past and Present from Margaret Pope, who would like to tell us more about the florilegium society an take this opportunity to give credit to the people who have been working on this exhibit for 2 years, some as long as 4 years. The Sonoran Desert Florilegium Program is a non-profit organization under the sponsorship of the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society. Volunteers with this program have been working over 2 years to prepare this exhibit. The Art Institute at the Desert Museum graciously offered gallery space to hold the exhibit. The presentation of information and artworks was done by The Florilegium Program. 

 

A large part of the exhibit is past works, less than one-third was a juried section. Dorothy DePaulo had a wonderful entry.  On Saturday, a reception was held which was very well attended. The exhibit is somewhat unusual as it links to the history of botanical art in general and to the history of the Sonoran Desert specifically. Also a dialogue about the characteristics of botanical art runs throughout the exhibit.  Overall, it's very informative with a lot of information as well as a lot of artwork. We were very pleased to see how interested people were in the information presented and how many read and looked very closely at the information and artwork.

 

Monthly meeting is TOMORROW!

 

This is a reminder of the RMSBA meeting tomorrow at 1:00pm, at the Belmar Library at:
555 South Allison Parkway
Lakewood, CO 80226
(303) 235-5275

We will be making greeting cards! Bring your paints, pencils, and your wonderful ideas! We will supply the cards and envelopes.

Light refreshments will be  provided.

 

Hope to see you there!

 

Floods Devastate Colorado's Front Range

Since Thursday, 12 September 2013, at least 8 lives have been lost in massive, unprecedented flooding in our state. Close to 200 persons are still unaccounted for, and cities across the front range are deeply involved in caring for their citizens as they attempt to recover their lives, homes and livelihoods.

St. Vrain outside of Lyons, CO

 

Aerial view near Milliken, CO

 

 

Colorado Springs resident helping out

 

 

 

Beleaguered Manitou Springs residents take the brunt of flooding from the Waldo Canyon burn site, this time with a backup of drains

The early summer brought fires along the Front Range, once again leaving people lost and homeless. Subsequent rain and flooding in fire ravaged areas brought further grief to these folks.

Our hearts go out to our members, their families and loved ones, and all the people affected by the raging whims of nature this year. Please know that each member of the RMSBA sends those affected many thoughts for a speedy recovery, a return to sweet normal life, and all the help you need.

Tech Treats

The bad thing about technical treats is they change so fast.
The good thing about technical treats is they change so fast!

Here are few treats you might enjoy:

Zoomy™ Handheld Digital Microscope

You know, it doesn't matter why you want to see things closer, larger, more detailed. Could be a close-up rendering, a fascination with all things tiny, or the challenges of aging eyesight. This little trinket is perfect for close up viewing. The technology is essentialy the same zoom and lens your phone has. This one, however, looks like a scanning device from Star Trek (TNG)! It plugs into a USB port on your computer, and voila! You can see the object of its attention in high-res on your computer screen. Check it out here to find out more.

Wacom's Intuos5 Tablet
So, you've always wanted a tablet to use with your computer but they were either a) too large, b) too small, c) too many cords were needed or d) they needed expensive software. Perhaps this is a good solution - good size, good programs, good price, and integrates with your computer completely.

 

 

This slender, lightweight tablet comes with a panoply of programs to allow you to do anything from a sketch to a finished artwork. It can work in a tethered fashion, corded to your computer, or, with an inexpensive wireless kit, you are cord free. It's draw surface is large enough to allow you to work intuitively, with room for expression. Great in the studio, and very inexpensive for a draw tablet. Click here for more information.

 





8x10 Cigar Box™ V 2.0
Technology is making everything smaller. Technical skills, a knowledge of art, and some great woodworking can create the perfect building block for your outdoor painting adventures.

The start of a beautiful story

 

Beginning with this well designed box, you can add a tripod, water cups, etc. to make your plein air experiences worth dodging bugs and finding shade. Click here for more information about this versatile pochade box/easel/board storage unit. 

Botanical Art at the Sonoran Desert, Past and Present, Open until October 27, 2013

Ferocactus wislizenii, Arizona Barrel Cactus,

Joan McGann,  (2013)
 

 

As you can see from Joan McGann's lovely piece, this is an exhibit not to be missed if you are in Tucson. The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is an amazing amalgam of natural habitat, wildlife, and art. Their Arizona Desert Florilegium is responsible for the artworks presented in this showing. Open daily from 10-4 in the Ironwood Gallery, you'll enjoy a wealth of botanical art.

 



Ephemera...

Five European cities in a very tiny book

 

The Ephemera block in the right column connects you to a variety of websites of interest. They change constantly. The most recent four additions include three websites about small treasures - miniatures! Books, paintings, sculptures, etc. And the fourth addition spotlights an ASBA member from the ASBA website gallery pages. This time, the featured artist, Kathleen Konicek-Moran, has a style that pushes the boundaries of traditional botanical art and informs the growth in contemporary art.

What's next?

Over the years, we've spent a lot of time as botanical artists discussing what constitutes botanical art. We all appear to agree that the artwork must contain the essential scientific information of the specimen. Images must be consistently lit, regardless off whether from left or right. Aesthetics are considered only after the anatomy of the specimen portrayed is mastered.

 

Let's take a look at how that understanding has grown in contemporary botanical art creation, using the works in the 2013 Society of Botanical Artists exhibition in England. For this post, we'll limit ourselves to composition and lighting.

 

Traditional botanical art composition requires that each important anatomical aspect of the plant be represented. The painting below demonstrates that aspect, but it also shows contemporary full field design, and slightly stylized color. How does this fit the tradition of botanical art?

 

Grapes for Charity © Mary Tarraway SBA

One of the tenets of botanical art has been that paintings shall not contain man-made artifacts. However, this image below shows a braided bow. It's accurate, in that it shows the most common presentation of ornamental corn in today's use. Is it still botanical art?

Ornamental Corn © Valerie Dugan SBA

The composition below does not contain all aspects of the flowers portrayed - leaves are missing, stems are not shown, flowers are not portrayed as they would necessarily appear if gathered into a bouquet. There's also a complete black background, and the light source isn't entirely understood. Can it be botanical art?

Twilight Hellebores © Sarah Caswell SBA

What do these paintings have that makes them compelling? In the first case, amazing design. In the second, a nod to contemporary presentation of colorful corn, that shows how the specimen most commonly fits into our lives. And in the third case, passionate presentation vignetted on a full black background, establishes great motion and drama in the painting.

Are these composition and design elements appropriate for a botanical art show? The august SBA feels they are. Do you?

One of the burning questions in contemporary art is how do we become recognized as an art genre, as well as an art in service to science. Perhaps these able tweakings of the concepts of botanical art in its traditions point the way to the future. The more the genre is viewed as art as well as illustration, the more opportunities we have to present the essential place plants hold in our world, whether scientific, decorative, cultural or passionate.

Click here to go to the SBA website and see more of their 2013 exhibition. It appears that the discussion of the future of botanical art is being addressed by our friends across the pond also.

Click here to Send your thoughts and comments about where the future of botanical art might lie to this blog. We look forward to hearing from you.

Remembering Summer Online Exhibition - Images due by September 30, 2013

Mesquite, colored pencil on film, Dorothy DePaulo

It's time to start gathering your images together and forwarding them to our Email Server. Images should be full color .jpg, about 5x7" or so, at least 150 dpi. Please include your name, the title of the image, species names in Latin and common usage, size of actual image width x height in inches, medium/a, and any short story you might want to share with other members about why you painted the specimen, or the process of painting, or the fun you had finding it, or any other related notes.

Deadline is 30 September, 2013. Gallery will be available online during October and November.

Member's Art Selected for Cover

The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum selected Dorothy DePaulo's Prosopis glandulosa - Post mortem, Mesquite after Death, for the cover of their August Announcements email newsletter. Congratulations, Dorothy. We're so pleased to see this quality piece recognized.

16th Annual ASBA/NYHort Exhibit Opens in September

16th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists at The Horticultural Society of New York

148 W. 37^th Street, 13^th Floor

New York, NY 10018

September 20 – November 22, 2013

Reception Friday, September 20, 6:00 – 8 PM

This exhibit continues to grow and expose more artists to the NYC art scene. If you're in the area, don't miss the 16th Annual International. It's a great experience with great crowds, food and art.

 

Ferocactus latispinusm, Devil's Tongue Barrel Cactus, Graphite and colored pencil,

16x16",  Joan McGann 2013

 

 

Bergenia crassifolia, Siberian Tea, 18x13.5", Watercolor on paper, Mary Ann Scott, 2012

 

 Jurors Patricia Jonas, Kathie Miranda, and Derek Norman met in April to select 45 artworks among 222 submissions from around the world. 

Hailing from around the US, and from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Japan, and the UK, the following artists had artworks accepted for exhibition: Rosalind Allchin, Bobbi Angell, Deb Chirnside, Monika deVries Gohlke, Carri DiCostanzo, Rosemary Donnelly, Beverly Duncan, Jean Emmons, Akiko Enokido, Ingrid Finnan, Patricia Giebutowski, Cherie Ann Gossett, Asuka Hishiki, Wendy Hollender, Yuko Inujima, Joan Keesey, Heeyoung Kim, Ku-mie Kim, Karen Kluglein, Kay Kopper, Lucy Martin, Joan McGann, Carrie Megan, Tomoko Ogawa, George Olson, Sharron O’Neil, John Pastoriza-Pinol, Lynne Railsback, Dick Rauh, Sarah Roche, Betsy Rogers-Knox, Lizzie Sanders Mitsuko Schultz, Mary Ann Scott, Elaine Searle, Julia Trickey, Denise Walser-Kolar, Catherine Watters, Kerri Weller, Carol Woodin, and Fatima Zagonel.

A catalog will be published to accompany the exhibition, go to the ASBA Website for further information on purchasing the catalog and exhibition activities, or contact Carol Woodin, Director of Exhibitions, exhibitions@asba-art.org, 866.691.9080

Updates for our Member Meeting Friday, 23 August 2014, 1 PM

Member Meeting,

Denver Botanic Gardens, Helen Fowler Library,

1 PM, August 23 2013

Hope you are planning to attend the very special Helen Fowler Library archives presentation prepared for us by April Miller, Librarian. Artifacts on display include:

De Historia Stirpium Commentarii Insignes… by Leonhart Fuchs.  Published in Basel circa 1542.

The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes by John Gerard.  Published in London in 1633. 

Florilegium Renovatum et Auctum by Johann Theodor de Bry.  Published in Frankfurt in 1641.

Temple of Flora, or, Garden of the Botanist, Poet, Painter, and Philosopher: being, picturesque botanical plates of the New Illustration of the Sexual Systerm of Linnaus by Robert John Thornton. (Image above)  Published in London in 1799.

The Orchid Album (11 volumes) written by Robert Warner and illustrated by John Nugent Fitch.  Published in London from 1882-97.
Laelia Purpurata Williamsii pictured above

 

British Wild Flowers by Jane Loudon.  Published in London in 1846. Image above.

The Botanical Magazine by William Curtis.  Published in London starting in 1787.

Styles and techniques change through the ages, but the beauty never pales. April will also show a few Pierre Joseph Redoute lithographs, an Anne Ophelia Dowden artwork, and two vintage Burpee seed/nursery catalogs.

When you arrive at the DBG, inform ticket takers that you are at the Gardens for a meeting in the Library. Admission tickets are not necessary. If you'd like to arrive early, you can tour the Gardens prior to the meeting. The Gardens especially are lush right now. DBG closes at 2 PM today to prepare for it's annual Fete de Fleur fund-raiser, so touring the gardens after the Library is not available on Friday.

Hope to see you all there!

 

Following in the Bartram's Footsteps

Contemporary Botanical Artists Explore the Bartrams' Legacy - A Traveling Exhibition

This show is boffo, as they say in showbiz! Look for a venue near you, and enjoy the display. You can also check out The Botanical Artist for their new feature, Beyond the Bartram's. It's a brief but interesting history of botanical exploration in the US, during colonial and early nation state days, and into the 19th century.

 

Franklinia alatamaha, Franklinia, Watercolor, © Karen Kluglein 2012

 

 



 

Spigelia marilandica, Indian Pink, Watercolor on Vellum, 9.5x7.5, Judith Simon 2012

This exhibition features 44 artworks of plants grown, sold, and introduced by John and William Bartram, centered upon their native US plant introductions. Go here The Bartram's in America to find out more about these fascinating 18th century plantsmen.

 

This travelling exhibition is scheduled at the following venues:

 

2013South Florida Museum
201 10th Street West
Bradenton, FL
September 19 - December 30, 2013

Cherokee Garden Library/Atlanta History Center
130 West Paces Ferry Road NW
Atlanta, GA
March 17 - June 17, 2014

North Carolina Botanical Garden
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
August 30 - November 2, 2014

University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley
200 Centennial Drive
Berkeley, CA
December 2014 - February 2015

Very Special Members Meeting Scheduled for Friday, 23 August, 1 PM

A woodland medley of Mushrooms, watercolor, by Anne Ophelia Dowden

A special treat for RMSBA members will occur at this upcoming meeting, to be held at the Denver Botanic Gardens Helen Fowler Library. Librarian April Miller will present treasures from the Library and Art Collections holdings, ranging from 15th century herbals to scientific artwork created by and for explorers to contemporary masters like Anne Ophelia Dowden. These amazing pieces of botanical art and illustration history will provide information, a link to the past, and most of all, inspiration to the botanical artist. Mark your calendars! You won't want to miss this.

Time for a Wonderful Exhibition

The Wildlife Experience in Parker once again hosts the artists of RMSBA, this time with a collection of autumnal works by members. Don't miss the Artist's Reception next Saturday, the 24th, a great time to see the artworks and visit with friends and artists.

Biennial Focus on Nature wants you!

 

Dear Artists and Friends,

The Focus on Nature XIII (FON XIII) exhibit on-line entry is now open. Please visit the website, click here: FON XIII,  for more detailed information.

Focus on Nature is a juried biennial, international exhibit of natural history illustration. It began in 1990 with the intention of highlighting illustrations that are done in support of natural and cultural history research and education. This is still the primary goal of the exhibitions that now includes an on-line catalog with artists' commentary.

There are five jurors for FON. The guest jurors, one artist and one scientist, for FON XIII are Alan Male from England and Steve Young of the USA. Alan Male has had the most number of pieces selected to be included in FON exhibits as well as winning several FON Awards. He has 30 years of experience as a professional illustrator including 27 complete books and an international clientele. He is currently head of the Illustration Program and senior lecturer at the Falmouth College of Arts, England. Steve Young is chief botanist with the New York Natural Heritage Program. Standing jurors are Dr. Carl George, professor emeritus of biology at Union College, and Dr. Charles Ver Straeten and Patricia Kernan of Research and Collections, New York State Museum.

Up to 2 submissions in any one subject and/or media are allowed. No more than a total of 4 entries will be considered. There is no entry fee for Focus on Nature. The artwork submission deadline is October 1, 2013. If you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Patricia Kernan, Focus on Nature curator

 

 

Midwest Summer by Sandra Williams
gouache, 2000, 22"w x 29"h

Time to plan your fall workshops -

 

Workshops, classes, master classes and demonstrations all feed your inner artist. The subject need not be strictly botanical. It should be about furthering your skills, touching your inner artist, finding a way to dance with your paintings, experimenting with new media, learning new materials, or simply taking a break from botanicals to get really, really abstract! Check out local offerings from around our area here: 

 

 

The Art Students League of Denver has courses in the fall that will enlarge your artistic repertoire. Get their catalog here: ASLD Classes

Check out Denver Botanic Gardens class offerings, including master classes and great electives, here:
DBG Classes

Try the Lakewood Arts Council for workshops, including some of our own distinguished members at:
LAC Workshops

The Denver Art Museum has a variety of classes in the arts. Check them out at DAM Art Classes

Super Summer Challenge

August 1st-September 9th

Don’t miss an opportunity to paint in some of the most spectacular urban and natural settings the Denver area has to offer at The Colorado Plein Air Festival – 2013

Go to the website for all the information you need to participate in this annual, outdoor, summer-time, sun-splashed, moon-lit, urban, parkland, plant, animal and architecture challenge. What could be more fun than finding the perfect specimen, in the perfect setting, and painting it where it stands! A great way to finalize all those Remembering Summer artworks for our annual online exhibition.

Sign up here: The CPAAF Sign Up Sheet

Exhibit Alert

Want to see some state-of-the-art realism, with some botanical work to make your botanical heart sing? Head to Gallery 1261 for a group exhibition by some masters in our area. The image below is a tasty tease to get you to head on down for the opening on July 26th.



Inspiration is where you find it. This weekend, try finding it at Gallery 1261. For more info, click: Gallery 1261.

Digital POW!

The cool thing about an iPhone, at least to me, is the availability of apps. I can't commend the iPhone on its "phone-like" abilities or even reliability, but it has great app appeal! So, I went here to find the best:

 

 

You can go by clicking here: Apps for Artists. There are ELEVEN cool apps right at your fingertips from this site. With a little bit of rummaging around on the Internet, you'll find more, I'm sure! Share your finds by including them in an email to rmsbartists@gmail.com. We'll all say thanks!

 

 

 

Happenings

Strawberries in Green Bowl, watercolor, 10x8", Kathy Cranmer

Member Kathy Cranmer is the featured Artist at Co-art Gallery in July. Her husband’s band is playing outside on the patio for the reception on Third Friday Art Walk.

Co-art Gallery

864 Santa Fe Drive

Denver, CO 80204

ARTIST'S RECEPTION
Collector's Friday July 19, 5 - 8 PM
World Class Rock by THOSE GUYS

 

 

Pink Tulips with a Blue Bottle, watercolor, 7x10", Kathy Cranmer 

 

 

In addition, Kathy's  painting “Pink Tulips with a Blue Bottle” (Watercolor 7"x10") was selected for the Colorado Watercolor Society Small Works Show. You can see her work in the exhibit at Lapis Gallery.

Lapis Gallery

July 5 thru July 27
3971 Tennyson St., Denver CO

Congratulations, Kathy! Check out her class offering on the right under Workshops.

 

Big, beefy, beautiful! Return of the Titan!

The Titum Arum at the US Botanic Gardens is ready to bloom! This is today's image, and you can follow its progress at Titum Arum Blooms.

 

The USBG is very proud of this turn of events, and tells us: 

 

The titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum), also known as the corpse flower or stinky plant, is about to bloom at the United States Botanic Garden Conservatory! Once fully open, it may remain in bloom for 24 to 48 hours, and then it will collapse quickly.

The magic of the titan arum comes from its great size - it is reputed to have the largest known unbranched inflorescence in the plant kingdom.

 

Referred to as the corpse flower or stinky plant, its putrid smell is most potent during peak bloom at night into the early morning. The odor is often compared to the stench of rotting flesh. The inflorescence also generates heat, which allows the stench to travel further. This combination of heat and smell efficiently attracts pollinators, such as dung and carrion beetles, from across long distances.

 

The titan arum does not have an annual blooming cycle. The time between flowering is unpredictable, which can span from a few years to a few decades. The plant requires very special conditions, including warm day and night temperatures and high humidity, making Botanic Gardens well suited to support this strange plant outside of its natural range.

 

This plant is native to the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, and was first discovered in 1878. Public viewing of this unique plant has occurred a limited number of times in the United States. The U.S. Botanic Garden last displayed a blooming titan arum in 2007.

Sheila Payne, A Retrospective, Reception on Saturday

We look forward to seeing you Saturday at Square Deal Gallery for this amazing retrospective of our member Sheila Payne's life work in the arts. Join us for this reception, meet the artist, and marvel at the works!

July 16 through August 23

Sheila Payne, A Retrospective

Square Deal Gallery

1460 S. Colorado Boulevard

Denver, CO

Reception: Saturday, July 20, 2013, 4 to 6 PM.

Get Your County Fair Art Kicks Here

Nothing says summer quite like a county fair. Denver County's fair sponsors an art exhibit open to all Colorado residents! Check out the scene and get entry requirements and schedules at All About Art at the Fair. Lots of opportunities and so much fun.

Postcards from...the Amazon!

Susie Olson has finished another watercolor painting inspired by her Amazon travels. This large work is of a native Heliconia.

 

 

We'd love to see the artistic results of your travels. Click here:



Submit Artwork

to connect with our email directly, and share your summer art endeavors with our members. And remember, we have our annual online exhibition Remembering Summer - 2013, coming up soon. Start saving those wonderful sketches, prints and paintings for display in October and November.

RMSBA Member Susan Rubin featured in To The Point

The Colored Pencil Society of America featured Susan Rubin in their Artist Profile feature in the June 2013, Vol. 22 No. 2 issue. Cynthia Haase, President of CPSA, had a long and interesting chat with Susan earlier in the year. Check it out! Susan has an interesting, amusing and very informed view about her art. You'll enjoy the read.

Deadlines Reminder

Don't forget, we've got some good exhibitions coming up. Full information is available under Calls for Entries to the right. Deadlines are:

Plants, Birds and Pollinators: Art Serving Science, November 16, 2013-February 14, 2014

See your work on view at Denver Botanic Gardens in this juried exhibition of GNSI members. All entries must bedigital, submitted according to online specifications.Final matted work must measure 16” x 20”.

Submission Begins: July 22, 2013

Submission due date: August 5, 2013

Weird, Wild and Wonderful:

http://www.asba-art.org/exhibitions/weird-wild-and-wonderful
Submission due date: Friday, September 13, 2013

RARE II

Submission due date: October 31, 2014

 

RMSBA Member Featured in Two Exhibits

Mary McCauley - Art Exhibits Summer 2013

Mary's work beautifully demonstrates the many paths an artist can take in exploring botanical subjects.

 

Solar Flares along with several other pieces (including her new series of pop up quilts) will be in the " Threads of Change: Contemporary Colorado Textiles" in the main gallery of the Foothills Art Center. The exhibit opens July 12th and closes September 1st. The Foothills Art Center is at 809 15th Street, Golden, CO 80401. Click here for more about Foothills Art Center.

Staghorn Fern is one of several of Mary's pieces that will appear in the "Manic Botanics" exhibit which opens July 19th in the McMahon Gallery of the Dairy Center for the Arts. Mary will be sharing the gallery with Longmont artist, Julie Clements.

There is an artist talk from 4-5 PM and an opening reception 5- 6:30 PM on July 19th.

The Dairy Center for the Arts is at 2590 Walnut Street, Boulder. Click here for more about The Dairy Center.

Click here to go to Mary's website to see more of her work.

 

Check in to your blog often...

...you'll find new posts frequently, with a broad range of subjects and art. To wit, Carol Till shared her newest print experiments with us. Carol reports:

I've been in bird mode lately, but some botanicals creep in as habitat. I just learned this new 2 plate technique this spring. One plate is made from the drawing at an intermediate stage, a second plate is made after more details are added. One plate is inked and printed with color, the second plate inked with a dark color and printed over the top.

Here are two versions which used this process. The blue print was first printed with grays and blues; then overprinted with black.

The other version is inked and printed first with multiple colors (ala poupeé in printing lingo), then overprinted with dark sepia. Then I overpainted with watercolors to add more color, especially to the poplar tree. This is so much fun, I made a dozen versions of this flicker. Finally a use for all those watercolors I own!

Here is a botanical; blue oaks from a field sketch made in March in the Sonoran Desert. Printed with colored inks and a little watercolor.

The lesson from all of this is that you can keep working on your pictures. If the colors or drawing aren't quite what you'd like, keep at it with another process. I've added watercolor, colored pencil, pastel, gouache and collaged over my prints trying to get to something that pleases me. Or maybe I'm a compulsive fiddler. And this is fun!

Click on Carol Till's Artwork to see more of Carol's birds and botanicals.

A Very Special Exhibit - July 16 to August 23, 2013

 

 

 

Dear Members of RMSBA,

There are heroes in our midst. Many of you know Sheila and Peter Payne. For those of you who don’t know them, I would briefly like to tell you a little of their story.

Sheila and Peter grew up in London during the terrible time of World War II. After the war they met, were married and started a family. Peter worked in construction. For many years, Sheila and their children, followed him to various construction sites all over the world.

Though Sheila’s father was an artist, and she had always loved art, she spent most of her years (as many of us did) raising a family and taking care of others. It wasn’t until she was sixty-years old, with her family grown, that Sheila had time to focus on her own passion: art.

Living in Malaysia, Sheila started painting watercolors. She painted with a fierce passion and though she had very little training, she worked hard, and with her natural talent, she produced some very extraordinary art. She painted what was around her: the beautiful Malaysian jungles, people, landscapes, seascapes, boats, Malaysian puppets with their beautiful batik costumes. She painted her world. Sheila was driven to capture it all!

In the early 2000’s, when Peter retired, they moved to the Denver area to be near one of their daughters. Sheila enrolled in the School for Botanical Art and Illustration, Denver Botanic Gardens. Though her health was already failing, Sheila pursued her love of painting. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, her hands trembled terribly, she had difficulty walking, yet she still produced wonderful artwork. Peter became her “manager.” He drove her to every class. Sheila became confined to a wheel chair, but still painted, and Peter supported her in every way, though he also had health problems. Through some very difficult times, Sheila held on and graduated.

A member of RMSBA for many years, Sheila continued to pursue her artworks and support the arts. Then two years ago, she had a stroke, and is no longer able to paint. This was definitely a set-back, but Sheila still has her passion for art and for life. Even though she can’t produce art anymore, Sheila  is allowing RMSBA to present a retrospective exhibit of her art so that she can inspire others to pursue their dreams, whatever they may be.

 

July 16 through August 23

Sheila Payne, A Retrospective 

Square Deal Gallery

1460 S. Colorado Boulevard

Denver, CO

Reception: Saturday, July 20, 2013, 4 to 6 PM.

 

Contact:

If you can help with a donation to defray  reception costs,

click here to contact Dorothy DePaulo

If you can help with the reception,

click here to contact Vanessa Martin

PH: 303.757.4647